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OT Davis could become Rutgers’ first top-10 NFL Draft pick
Giants BlogBy BART HUBBUCH
Last Updated: 11:41 AM, April 4, 2010
Posted: 3:13 AM, April 4, 2010
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/ot_davis_could_become_rutgers_first_TCjH3lEoFN9CIXiwM8xHOP
This is the second of a three-part series previewing the April 22-24 NFL Draft:
Anthony Davis seems to be putting himself back in the NFL’s good graces.
Just how much redemption the mammoth Rutgers offensive tackle has earned won’t be known until the draft later this month, but Davis eased some questions about his maturity with a strong workout for 11 teams — including the Jets and Giants — earlier this week.
Davis had angered scouts and executives from numerous clubs with his mysterious no-show at the Scarlet Knights’ pro day last month, adding fuel to doubts within the industry about the 20-year-old’s mental readiness.
neil miller
Anthony Davis.
As far as the 6-foot-5, 328-pound Davis’ physical skills, however, there remains no doubt. The most prized recruit in Rutgers history remains on track to be its first top 10 pick, thanks to exceptionally quick feet, long arms and a certified mean streak.
“It was a do-over that a lot of us weren’t happy about [having to scout], but he showed everything he needed to show,” an AFC general manager whose scouts attended Davis’ workout told The Post. “The red flags [about maturity] are still there, but the kid has a ton of talent.”
Those attributes rank Davis among the top offensive lineman this year in a draft class that is incredibly deep in first- and second-round talent, particularly at tackle.
Scouts still put Oklahoma State’s ferocious left tackle Russell Okung at the top of the list, but the well is deep as The Post takes a look at the top prospects at offensive line, tight end and defensive line heading into the April 22-24 draft at Radio City Music Hall:
OFFENSIVE LINE
This is a good year to need an offensive tackle, considering that scouts say as many as six could be taken in the first round alone.
Okung and Rutgers’ Davis are joined on the top rungs of that ladder by the polished Trent Williams of Oklahoma, a terrific athlete who ran a 4.8 40-yard dash this offseason and showed off an eye-popping 341⁄2-inch vertical leap.
All three are capable of playing left tackle as rookies in the NFL rather than having to start out on the less-demanding right side.
Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga isn’t that advanced, but he’s still considered first-round material. Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell used a sensational combine workout to counteract questions about his durability, and USC’s Charles Brown is a late first-round possibility, too. The draft is thinner in the interior, where only Idaho guard Mike Iupati is considered a first-round lock by most teams. But depth is there at both guard and center.
TIGHT ENDS
If this is an optimum year for finding offensive linemen, good luck to teams in need of a difference-making tight end.
The only tight end who has pulses racing in draft rooms is Oklahoma’s 6-5, 261-pound Jermaine Gresham, who has excellent hands, decent speed (4.66 40) and the size to be a quality blocker in the run game.
But Gresham is the lone tight end with a first-round grade by most teams. There is some quality among players with middle-round grades, with Miami’s Jimmy Graham raising his stock this offseason.
Scouts also like Florida’s Aaron Hernandez, but question his big numbers in the gimmicky spread-option scheme while wondering about his blocking.
The prominence of the spread offense in college is blamed for the thinning of talent at this position in recent years, in large part because the scheme can inflate reception totals and doesn’t require the blocking demanded from tight ends in most NFL attacks.
DEFENSIVE LINE
What has been obvious from Day One with this draft class hasn’t changed along the way — it is The Year of the Defensive Tackle.
Nebraska’s hulking Ndamukong Suh is considered by some the best player in the entire draft and could be the No. 1 overall pick if the Rams’ recent focus on quarterbacks turns out to be a smokescreen.
Suh commanded constant double teams in college and likely will require the same in the NFL. That goes for a lot of other players at his spot in this year’s draft, considering scouts say as many as 13 defensive linemen could go in the first round.
Oklahoma tackle Gerald McCoy compares favorably to Suh and also is likely to be a top-five pick. Nose tackles — in high demand with so many NFL teams going to the 3-4 defense — also are plentiful, with 350-pound Terrance “Mount” Cody of Alabama getting plenty of attention.
HUBBUCH'S TOP 5 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, TIGHT ENDS AND DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
[email protected]
Giants BlogBy BART HUBBUCH
Last Updated: 11:41 AM, April 4, 2010
Posted: 3:13 AM, April 4, 2010
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/ot_davis_could_become_rutgers_first_TCjH3lEoFN9CIXiwM8xHOP
This is the second of a three-part series previewing the April 22-24 NFL Draft:
Anthony Davis seems to be putting himself back in the NFL’s good graces.
Just how much redemption the mammoth Rutgers offensive tackle has earned won’t be known until the draft later this month, but Davis eased some questions about his maturity with a strong workout for 11 teams — including the Jets and Giants — earlier this week.
Davis had angered scouts and executives from numerous clubs with his mysterious no-show at the Scarlet Knights’ pro day last month, adding fuel to doubts within the industry about the 20-year-old’s mental readiness.
neil miller
Anthony Davis.
As far as the 6-foot-5, 328-pound Davis’ physical skills, however, there remains no doubt. The most prized recruit in Rutgers history remains on track to be its first top 10 pick, thanks to exceptionally quick feet, long arms and a certified mean streak.
“It was a do-over that a lot of us weren’t happy about [having to scout], but he showed everything he needed to show,” an AFC general manager whose scouts attended Davis’ workout told The Post. “The red flags [about maturity] are still there, but the kid has a ton of talent.”
Those attributes rank Davis among the top offensive lineman this year in a draft class that is incredibly deep in first- and second-round talent, particularly at tackle.
Scouts still put Oklahoma State’s ferocious left tackle Russell Okung at the top of the list, but the well is deep as The Post takes a look at the top prospects at offensive line, tight end and defensive line heading into the April 22-24 draft at Radio City Music Hall:
OFFENSIVE LINE
This is a good year to need an offensive tackle, considering that scouts say as many as six could be taken in the first round alone.
Okung and Rutgers’ Davis are joined on the top rungs of that ladder by the polished Trent Williams of Oklahoma, a terrific athlete who ran a 4.8 40-yard dash this offseason and showed off an eye-popping 341⁄2-inch vertical leap.
All three are capable of playing left tackle as rookies in the NFL rather than having to start out on the less-demanding right side.
Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga isn’t that advanced, but he’s still considered first-round material. Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell used a sensational combine workout to counteract questions about his durability, and USC’s Charles Brown is a late first-round possibility, too. The draft is thinner in the interior, where only Idaho guard Mike Iupati is considered a first-round lock by most teams. But depth is there at both guard and center.
TIGHT ENDS
If this is an optimum year for finding offensive linemen, good luck to teams in need of a difference-making tight end.
The only tight end who has pulses racing in draft rooms is Oklahoma’s 6-5, 261-pound Jermaine Gresham, who has excellent hands, decent speed (4.66 40) and the size to be a quality blocker in the run game.
But Gresham is the lone tight end with a first-round grade by most teams. There is some quality among players with middle-round grades, with Miami’s Jimmy Graham raising his stock this offseason.
Scouts also like Florida’s Aaron Hernandez, but question his big numbers in the gimmicky spread-option scheme while wondering about his blocking.
The prominence of the spread offense in college is blamed for the thinning of talent at this position in recent years, in large part because the scheme can inflate reception totals and doesn’t require the blocking demanded from tight ends in most NFL attacks.
DEFENSIVE LINE
What has been obvious from Day One with this draft class hasn’t changed along the way — it is The Year of the Defensive Tackle.
Nebraska’s hulking Ndamukong Suh is considered by some the best player in the entire draft and could be the No. 1 overall pick if the Rams’ recent focus on quarterbacks turns out to be a smokescreen.
Suh commanded constant double teams in college and likely will require the same in the NFL. That goes for a lot of other players at his spot in this year’s draft, considering scouts say as many as 13 defensive linemen could go in the first round.
Oklahoma tackle Gerald McCoy compares favorably to Suh and also is likely to be a top-five pick. Nose tackles — in high demand with so many NFL teams going to the 3-4 defense — also are plentiful, with 350-pound Terrance “Mount” Cody of Alabama getting plenty of attention.
HUBBUCH'S TOP 5 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, TIGHT ENDS AND DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
[email protected]
DAL @ GB
